We truly loved the design and build of the HTC One M8 and it is definitely one of the best looking Android smartphones available today. HTC did however surprise us when it announced a polycarbonate version of the One leaving us in a dilemma as to whether this material would work or not. They also replaced the duo-camera system with a 13MP sensor claiming that it is one of the fastest smartphone cameras.
Now the dimensions of the One E8 are exactly similar to the M8 but it is lighter in weight. The back is all polycarbonate in a uni-body style design and the black version has a rubberized matte finish and the white version has a glossy finish.
The smartphone does give off a premium vibe, no doubt, and for the ones who are worried about getting dents and scuffs on a metal design, the E8 is the perfect alternative. We weren’t disappointed with the change in material and the overall feel in the hand is quite good. There are also some nice golden accents around the camera and LED flash and also the sleep/power button which is now positioned right in the middle of the top edge. The rest of the design of the E8 is exactly the same as its metal brother.
The new camera was another big question as there have been mixed reactions from consumers. The duo-camera system on the M8 was restricted to producing 4MP pictures, albeit with a nice refocusing feature. But on the E8 you get a 13MP module without the refocusing option. To be honest the camera on the E8 doesn’t miss out on anything major when compared to the camera on the One M8. Pictures produced are quite good and even low light performance is decent. Focusing is relatively fast and accurate and the shutter is amazingly fast. You get a bunch of editing options as well as Zoe just like the M8.
Pictures taken indoors and low light do show signs of graininess and are slightly low on contrast levels. In outdoor conditions, pictures are perfect with accurate colours and sharp details.
Check out some of the camera samples below:
Expect our comprehensive review of the HTC One E8 soon.